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Red Sox to Honor Pedroia on June 25

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BOSTON – (Source: Official News Release) – The Red Sox announced plans to honor former second baseman Dustin Pedroia during pregame ceremonies at Fenway Park on Friday, June 25, before the 7:10 p.m. Sox-Yankees game. Pedroia, who played in 1,512 games with the club from 2006-19, announced his retirement from the Red Sox and the game of baseball on February 1, 2021.

Tickets for the June 25 game are on sale now and can be purchased on redsox.com/tickets.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 24: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the game on July 24, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Dustin Pedroia signed an 8-year, $110 million extension with the team today. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

During his time in a Red Sox uniform, Pedroia and his wife Kelli were active supporters of the Red Sox Foundation. To help commemorate the spirit of their charitable contributions, the Red Sox Foundation is offering fans the chance to join the “Pedey Fan Club” to raise funds for its many charitable programs. Fans who sign up for the fan club will receive a box filled with Pedroia-themed items, such as a trophy case bobblehead, a retirement hat, a greatest moments coaster set, and a laser show light-up pint glass. The fan club is $115 to join, and all net proceeds directly benefit the Red Sox Foundation. Those who sign up online at redsox.com/pedroia will receive their promotional boxes by mail in July.

Pedroia, 37, spent his entire 17-year professional career in the Red Sox organization after being selected by the club in the second round of the 2004 June Draft. A three-time World Series champion (2007, ’13, ’18), he was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and Most Valuable Player in 2008. He earned four All-Star Game selections (2008-10, ’13), four Gold Glove Awards at second base (2008, ’11, ’13-14), and a 2008 Silver Slugger Award, and is the only second baseman ever named Red Sox MVP by the Boston Baseball Writers (2008, ’12). In 2012, Pedroia was named the starting second baseman on the All-Fenway Team.

In major league history, Pedroia is the only player ever to win a World Series title and earn MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Gold Glove awards within their first two full seasons, having accomplished the feat from 2007-08. The only other players to achieve all of those accomplishments at any point in their careers are National Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, and Cal Ripken Jr., as well as Pete Rose, Thurman Munson, Albert Pujols, Buster Posey, and Cody Bellinger.

Pedroia was the Red Sox’ nominee for the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart and Hustle Award in seven consecutive seasons from 2010-16 and was named MLB’s overall winner in 2013. The award is given annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit, and traditions of the game. He also received the Boston Baseball Writers’ Jackie Jensen Award in 2011 and 2014, presented annually to a Red Sox player for spirit and determination.

In the Red Sox’ 121-year history, Pedroia’s 1,506 games played rank 11th all-time and are the second-most among club second baseman, trailing only Bobby Doerr (1,865). Pedroia played in 14 major league seasons from 2006-19, tied with Doerr and David Ortiz for seventh most in franchise history behind only Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19), Ted Williams (19), Tim Wakefield (17), Jim Rice (16), and Jason Varitek (15). Pedroia made 11 consecutive Opening Day starts from 2007-17, trailing only Yastrzemski (12 in left field) for the longest streak ever by a Red Sox player at any position. In the 11 seasons prior to 2007 (1996-2006), 10 different players made Opening Day starts at second base for Boston.

In his major league career, Pedroia batted .299 (1,805-for-6,031) with a .365 on-base percentage, 140 home runs, 394 doubles, 725 RBI, 922 runs scored, 138 stolen bases, and only 30 fewer walks (624) than strikeouts (654). In Red Sox history, he ranks among the top 10 all time in hits (8th), doubles (6th), runs (10th), steals (6th), extra-base hits (8th, 549), total bases (8th, 2,649), and at-bats (9th). During his 10-year stretch from 2007-16, his 50.6 wins above replacement ranked sixth in the majors behind only Robinson Canó (57.6), Adrián Beltré (56.2), Albert Pujols (55.3), Miguel Cabrera (54.8), and Clayton Kershaw (53.9), according to Baseball-Reference. In that 10-year span, Pedroia batted .303 and ranked second in the AL in doubles (371), fourth in hits (1,666), and fourth in runs scored (869).

Pedroia hit at least .300 in a season five times and was the only major leaguer to bat at least .275 in each of the 11 seasons from 2007-17 (min. 300 PA). His five games with at least five hits are the most in Red Sox history, and he is the franchise’s only player ever to record as many as six hitting streaks of 10 or more games in a single season (2016). His 25-game hitting streak in 2011 is the longest ever by a Red Sox second baseman, while his 138 steals are the franchise’s most at his position. Pedroia is the only second baseman in Red Sox history to record at least 200 hits and 100 runs scored in a season (2008, ’16). He still holds single-season franchise records in batting average (.326), runs (118), hits (213), doubles (54), total bases (322), and extra-base hits (73) by a second baseman, all reached during his 2008 MVP season. Pedroia joins Yastrzemski and Mookie Betts as the only Red Sox ever to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.

In addition to his four Gold Glove Awards, Pedroia was named a finalist at second base in 2012, 2016, and 2017. His .991 fielding percentage at second base is the highest in AL history; he owns eight of the 12 highest single-season fielding percentages at second base in Red Sox history, including a franchise-best .997 mark in 2014. Pedroia fielded 439 consecutive chances without committing an error during a stretch from 2009-10 and played 114 consecutive errorless games from 2016-17, both Red Sox records at second base. He also holds Red Sox single-season records for most games (160) and starts (159) at second base, both reached during the club’s 2013 World Series championship season.

Pedroia was the Red Sox’ starting second baseman in all 51 of the club’s Postseason games from 2007-17, as he joins Mark Lemke (Braves, 55) and Robinson Canó (Yankees, 51) as the only players ever to start at least 50 consecutive Postseason games at second base for a single team. During his 2007 rookie season, Pedroia went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Game 7 of the ALCS, as he still holds the rookie record for most RBI in an ALCS game. He is one of only two rookies ever to homer in Game 7 of an ALCS, joined by Randy Arozarena in 2020. Pedroia homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park; he is still the only rookie ever to hit a leadoff home run in the World Series.

In 2014, Pedroia launched the Pedroia’s Platoon program as a way to invite military members to Fenway Park during homestands, meeting with them before games and providing them tickets to his seats. He has also been involved in countless events with the Jimmy Fund, has met with several children as part of the Make-A-Wish program, and has been a regular participant in events that benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

Pedroia and his wife, Kelli, have three sons, Dylan, Cole, and Brooks. They reside in Arizona.

Marchand Scores in OT to Lead Bruins

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UNIONDALE – (Staff and Wire Services Report) – Boston winger Brad Marchand scored 3:36 into overtime Thursday night as the visiting Bruins edged the New York Islanders, 2-1, in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference second-round series on Long Island. The Bruins now lead the best-of-seven series two games to one.

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Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night in Uniondale.

The Islanders were outshot 39-24 in regulation but opened the overtime with momentum following Mathew Barzal’s goal with 5:26 left. New York had five of the first six shots before Marchand, leaping over the boards in a shift change, took a pass from Long Island native Charlie McAvoy and fired an angled shot that sailed past defenseman Ryan Pulock and over the far shoulder of Semyon Varlamov.

Craig Smith scored in the first for the Bruins.

Boston goalkeeper Tuukaa Rask made 28 saves while NY’s Varlamov recorded 39 saves.

The Islanders outshot the Bruins 7-5 in the first, but Smith, who missed Game 2 with a lower-body injury, put Boston ahead a little less than six minutes after faceoff.

Barzal and the Bruins’ Taylor Hall battled each other for the puck as they skated into the Boston zone. Hall finally won the duel and handed the puck off to Matt Grzelyck, who raced up the neutral zone before dishing back to Hall, who was stationed at the right faceoff circle. Hall passed to Smith, whose shot from the slot sailed beyond the outstretched stick of Jordan Eberle and over Varlamov’s glove at the 5:52 mark.

Both teams had plenty of chances during a scoreless second, during which the Bruins held a 13-8 shot advantage. The Islanders had four shots during a power play created when David Pastrnak was whistled for slashing, but Rask stopped Anthony Beauvillier from point-blank range with 10:15 left.

Varlamov turned away back-to-back shots in the crease by David Krejci and Smith with a little more than five minutes left. Those near-misses began a period-ending sequence in which the Bruins had eight of the final nine shots, including five unanswered in the final 2:58.

The Bruins continued peppering Varlamov in the third. Smith was stymied at the doorstep a little more than a minute into the period and Chris Wagner couldn’t finish a wrap-around eight minutes in for Boston, which outshot the Islanders 15-4 to open the third before collecting four more shots after Josh Bailey was whistled for tripping at the 11:04 mark.

Barzal finally tied it for the Islanders with 5:26 left when his second attempt of a wraparound trickled between Rask’s legs. New York almost took the lead with 3:15 left, when Rask cradled a point-blank breakaway by Beauvillier off a Bruins turnover.

Red Sox Salvage a Game in Houston

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HOUSTON – Boston’s Christian Arroyo hit a three-run homer and starting pitcher Martin Perez tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox posted a much-needed 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon to salvage the finale of a four-game series.

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Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts broke out of an 0-for-24 mini-slump with a two-run double in the seventh inning as the Red Sox halted the Astros’ four-game winning streak. Bogaerts added an infield single in the ninth.

Perez (4-2) allowed six hits and one walk and struck out four during an 82-pitch effort. The left-hander has won his past four starts.

Houston’s Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-4 with a ninth-inning homer for the Astros, as they had outscored Boston 18-4 while winning the first three games of the series. Aledmys Diaz added two hits for the Astros.

J.D. Martinez had two doubles for the Red Sox.

Perez was five outs away from his third career shutout before tiring in the eighth. He allowed a one-out single to Garrett Stubbs and issued a two-out walk to Diaz to conclude his outing. Adam Ottavino entered and got Alex Bregman to fly to left-center to end the inning. Fellow right-handed reliever Brandon Workman served up Gurriel’s eighth blast with one out in the ninth before retiring the final two batters.

Earlier, Red Sox 3B  Rafael Devers led off the second inning with a double off the fence in center and Hunter Renfroe drew a walk against Houston starter Jake Odorizzi (0-3). Arroyo followed and received a cutter on the eighth pitch of the at-bat and hit it into the Crawford Boxes in left for his first homer of the season.

The score remained 3-0 until the seventh when Jason Verdugo walked against Astros right-hander Cristian Javier and Martinez followed with his second double.

That brought up Bogaerts, who had come up in the same situation two innings earlier and had struck out to keep his funk going. This time, Bogaerts laced a 2-2 slider into the left-field corner to score two for his first hit since May 25 against the Atlanta Braves.

Odorizzi lasted just three innings and allowed three runs and four hits. He walked three and struck out two.

Big East vs. Big 12 Battle Announced

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NEW YORK – The Big East and Big 12 Conferences recently announced the dates and matchups for the third year of the BIG EAST-vs-Big 12-Battle.

The contests, which will be played in December, were jointly determined by the two conferences. The home school has the right to determine the venue of its game. Broadcast arrangements for the games will be determined by the national television rights holder of the home team, which is FOX Sports for the BIG EAST and ESPN for the Big 12.

The four-year agreement between the two conferences will continue through the 2022-23 season with an equal number of games played in each conference’s home market each year. Television designations and game times will be announced when available.

2021 BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle Schedule
Dec. 1 Texas Tech at Providence
Dec. 2 Kansas at St. John’s
Dec. 4 Iowa State at Creighton
Dec. 5 Xavier at Oklahoma State
Dec. 7 Butler at Oklahoma
Dec. 8 Marquette at Kansas State
Dec. 8 Connecticut at West Virginia
Dec. 9 Texas at Seton Hall
Dec. 12 Villanova at Baylor

Shamrock ☘️ Shake-Up

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BOSTON – (Source: Official News Release) – Danny Ainge – the only Celtic in the team’s 74-year history to win championships both as a player and as a general manager – announced that he is retiring from his role as President of Basketball Operations. Brad Stevens, who has served as the team’s head coach for the last eight seasons, has been promoted to the team’s President of Basketball Operations. Ainge will continue to work with the team on transition planning through the upcoming off-season. A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

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“Helping guide this organization has been the thrill of a lifetime, and having worked side-by-side with him since he’s been here, I know we couldn’t be in better hands than with Brad guiding the team going forward,” said Ainge. “I’m grateful to ownership, all of my Celtics colleagues, and the best fans in basketball for being part of the journey.”

“Danny has made all the difference over the past 18 years – our record of winning percentage and playoff victories is near the top of the league during that time. He has always been a relentless competitor and a winner. Red Auerbach told us Danny is ‘lucky,’ and he was right, but a lot of the luck came from his intense drive and his incredible basketball insights,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Co-Owner and Governor. “Turning to Brad is a natural next step, since we have built a partnership over the past eight years, and he is a special basketball mind. We want him to lead us into the next great era of Celtics basketball.”

In his 18 years guiding the team, Ainge’s teams made 15 playoff appearances, seven Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and brought the team a championship in 2008, the franchise’s 17th and first in 22 years. Ainge was the first, and to this point, only general manager hired by the current Celtics ownership group, led by Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca. Since the 2007-08 season, the Celtics have won more playoff games than any team in the NBA.

“I have loved every day I have worked with Danny and we have really benefited from his relentless pursuit of excellence and high integrity approach to the game. Danny built a team that brought us our 17th championship, and leaves us with a great foundation of talent for us to build upon, including of course bringing Brad Stevens into the organization,” said Pagliuca, Celtics Co-Owner and Alternate Governor. “To replace someone of Danny’s stature, we know we need a great talent evaluator, a great leader, and a great communicator, and Brad possesses all of those qualities in abundance.”

Stevens was hired by Ainge in 2013, and has led the team to a 354-282 record, including seven consecutive playoffs and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Stevens joined the Celtics after coaching Butler University where he became the only coach in school history to lead a team to the NCAA Division I national championship game, which he did twice.

“I’m grateful to ownership and to Danny for trusting me with this opportunity,” said Stevens. “I’m excited to tackle this new role, starting with a wide ranging and comprehensive search for our next head coach. I love the Celtics, and know the great honor and responsibility that comes with this job. I will give it everything I have to help us be in position to consistently compete for championships.”

Ainge has overseen dozens of transactions, but his best-known roster moves include the off-season of 2007, which resulted in acquiring future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join with Celtics cornerstone Paul Pierce and Ainge drafted point guard Rajon Rondo. That group played in two NBA Finals in three years from 2008-2010.

In 2013, Ainge rapidly rebuilt the franchise in a series of moves, none more notable than trading Garnett and Pierce in a deal that netted lottery picks that were used to select current Celtics All Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That was also the summer Ainge and ownership hired Stevens.

New Sports Biz & Tech Innovation: NBA “Launch Pad”

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NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association recently announced a new start-up and innovation concept – NBA Launchpad, the league’s latest initiative to source, evaluate, and pilot emerging technologies that advance the NBA’s top basketball priorities across all levels of the game.

Starting June 1, companies and entrepreneurs can apply to NBA Launchpad by submitting innovations that address one of four priority areas: Elevating Health and Wellness in Youth Basketball, Enhancing Elite Youth Player Performance, Innovating Ankle Injury Prevention and Recovery, and Advancing Referee Training and Development.

“With NBA Launchpad, we can identify and support the next generation of innovative sports technology, continuing to advance our top basketball priorities and elevate our global game,” said Evan Wasch, Executive Vice President, Basketball Strategy & Analytics.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, selected applicants will participate in a six-month R&D pilot within the NBA’s platform of elite and grassroots programs. As part of NBA Launchpad, companies and entrepreneurs will receive access to NBA resources, hands-on support, and other unique incentives to develop the future of basketball-related technology.

NBA Launchpad is seeking submissions for innovations that address the following basketball priorities:

  • Elevating Health and Wellness in Youth Basketball

Promoting a healthier grassroots experience for millions of boys and girls is a critical priority for the Jr. NBA program – the NBA and WNBA’s global youth basketball participation program. Developed in partnership with USA Basketball, the Jr. NBA’s Youth Basketball Guidelines highlight the benefits of youth basketball participation and provide age-appropriate recommendations and guidelines to reduce the risk of injuries, fatigue, and burnout. The NBA is looking for additional innovations that assist players, parents, coaches, and administrators in promoting a healthier grassroots basketball experience.

  • Enhancing Elite Youth Player Performance

The NBA operates elite youth development programs domestically and around the world to identify and develop top basketball talent, including NBA G League Ignite, NBA Academies and Basketball Without Borders. To continue improving the quality of these programs, the NBA is searching for new products and services that enhance elite youth player performance. 

  • Innovating Ankle Injury Prevention and Recovery

Due to the prevalence of ankle sprains at all levels of the game and the negative impact on player health, availability, and performance, the NBA has undertaken a broad evaluation of ankle sprains, including publishing research, expanding data collection, and working with medical experts and key stakeholders to better understand and address these injuries. To supplement ongoing efforts, the NBA is seeking innovative approaches to further reduce the impact of ankle injuries.

  • Advancing Referee Training and Development

Officiating an NBA game takes years of preparation and training at the highest level. Every year, the NBA trains and evaluates thousands of amateur referees all over the world. To strengthen these current programs, the NBA is seeking technologies that enhance the training, development, and recruitment of referees.

NBA Accepts 353 Early Entry Filings

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NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association recently announced that 353 players — 296 players from colleges and other educational institutions and 57 international players — have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm.

Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5 p.m. ET on Monday, July 19. Under NCAA rules, in order to retain college basketball eligibility, college players who have entered NBA Draft 2021 must withdraw by Wednesday, July 7.

Red Sox Head to Space City

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HOUSTON – If the Boston Red Sox are smart, they’ll sign Bill “Spaceman” Lee to a contract today for a span of the next 10 days. The Sox and Houston – home of the Johnson Space Center – will play seven baseball games in 11 days, with four coming this week at Minute Maid Stadium in Texas, while three games between Boston and the Astros will be scheduled for June 8-10 at Fenway Park.

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Going into this afternoon’s game, the Red Sox (32-20) are four games ahead of Houston (28-24) for the AL Wild Card slot, as Boston trails Tampa (34-20) for first place in the AL East. Houston has won each of the last regular season series between the two clubs but 12 of the last 23 contests were decided by one run.

Boston will start lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3, 5.06 ERA) against Houston’s Jose Urquidy, a righty with a (3-2) record and 3.32 ERA. Overall, Boston starters have thrown 5-or-more innings in 44 games this season, third best in the majors behind the Oakland A’s (46) and LA Dodgers (45). The Red Sox are 15-3 when their starter goes 6+ innings and that was an issue for Rodriguez his last time out when he pitched a season-low 4.o innings against Philadelphia on May 23.

Prior to that start, Rodriguez had a MLB high and career-best of 36 starts going at least 5+ innings.  Rodriguez has lost his last three consecutive outings but has received only one run of support in those three games combined.

The Red Sox begin 17 consecutive days of games at Houston this afternoon.

 

Sox Win Rain-Shortened Game vs Miami

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BOSTON – It was a wash-out. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Miami Marlins, 5-2, in a Friday night drench-fest, delayed following the top of the 6th inning at 9:19 p.m and finally called at 10:44 p.m. The win brought the Sox to a season-high-tying 11 games above .500 (31-20) after winning six of their last nine games.

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Red Sox starter Martin Perez pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five hits and only two runs while striking-out four Miami batters. Perez allowed three earned runs or fewer for the ninth time in 10 starts this season, including each of his last seven outings. Perez retired 12 of his 13 batters faced, including a double play, following a home run surrendered to Miami’s Jorge Alfaro in the 2nd inning.

Boston’s J.D. Martinez went 2-for-3, as he hit a two-run double in the 3rd inning, tying the score at 2-2. Martinez also singled in the 5th. The two-run double marked the 300th and 301st RBI of his Red Sox career.

Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe went 2-for-2, with doubles and runs scored in the 3rd and 5th innings. Each of Renfroe’s last four hits have gone for extra bases (three 2B, one HR). In 22 games this month, is batting .286 with an .838 OPS, 11 extra-base hits, and 13 RBI.

Miami starter Cody Poteet went 4.1 innings, held the Sox scoreless through two while eventually allowing four hits, five runs, with two walks and six strike-outs. He threw a career-low in innings and took his first career loss. The Marlins have lost each of their last two games after winning four of their previous five.

Bruins Dominate Caps, Advance

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WASH DC – Boston’s Patrice Bergeron scored twice while high-scoring line-mate David Pastrnak added a goal and an assist while goal-keeper Tuukka Rask turned away 40 shots as the Bruins won their East Division first-round playoff series with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 5.

The Bruins won this series 4-1 and must now await to play the winner of the Pittsburgh-New York Islanders series in the second round. That series is deadlocked at 2-2, with Game 5 set for tonight in Pittsburgh.

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Rask was up to the task once again as Boston seemed content to play defense most of the time after it took the lead in the second period. Washington outshot the Bruins, 41-19, and Rask remained steady throughout.

The Washington power play was ineffective, once more, going 0-for-4 in this game and just 1-for-10 in the past two games when the club had a man advantage. Washington had problems finding good scoring chances against a Bruins’ defense that seemed to be faster than the Caps, which slowed the usually high-scoring team down throughout the series.

Pastrnak gave Boston a 1-0 lead 2:28 into the second period. He got the puck near the left boards in Washington’s end and made two slick moves — the first coming when he slid the puck between his legs — that beat two Capital defenders and put a quick shot past goalie Ilya Samsonov (16 saves).

Bergeron made it 2-0 later in the period after a Washington turnover near the blue line. Pastrnak pushed it to Mike Reilly, who fed Bergeron, and the forward ripped a hard shot past Samsonov with 5:55 left in the period.